Appealing to the Electorate

• To learn why normal Germans voted for the Nazis• To understand how the Nazi Party gained enough votes to get into the Reichstag

What were conditions like in Germany after World War One?

How did the German people feel about the way Germany was treated in the Treaty of Versailles?

Hitler’s Beliefs

• Hitler believed that the Aryan race (descendants of the Teutonic peoples) were superior to other races

• He believed that the most inferior race were the Jewish• However, Hitler believed that their was a conspiracy that

enabled the Jewish race to wield power and influence over governments

• Hitler also believed that Jews were deliberately conspiring against the German people

Reactions to Hitler’s Beliefs• Although Hitler’s beliefs attracted some people,

particularly on the right of the political spectrum, they were unappealing to most of the German electorate (they received 3% of the vote)

• Despite having candidates stand, mainly in urban areas, the Nazi Party received a very small share of the vote

• Hitler realised that revolution was not likely to work, after the failure of the Beer Hall Putsch

• Hitler understood that the Nazi Party had to get into power through legitimate means

A Decline in German Society• Hitler viewed many of the changes to society in

the 1920s as the erosion of traditional morals• In particular, jazz music and clubs were seen as

a threat. These were seen as Jewish influences on culture

• They were also viewed as a breeding ground for communism

Appealing to the Electorate• Hitler decided to use his views on the decline of

German society to his advantage• The Nazi Party changed its focus from urban

areas, to more rural constituency• In these areas, appealing to the wealthy farmers

(jankers), on the grounds of traditional values was a success

Electoral Success

• The Nazi Party was able to increase its share of the vote to 13%, making them a significant minority in the Reichstag

• Hitler realised that his beliefs were too much for the average German citizen to accept, so disguised anti-Jewish policies behind a focus on traditional values and improving conditions in Germany

Why do you think that Hitler’s change in tactics was successful?